Two-year contract just the job for Cookson

Leeds Rhinos loanee Mo Agoro, one of nine new players at Oldham, strides out during the first session of pre-season training

OLDHAM RL Club’s young centre David Cookson is staying at Whitebank after talks with chairman Chris Hamilton and coach Scott Naylor.

The former England Students’ international and BARLA Great Britain under-23s centre has signed a new two-year contract which will tie him to Roughyeds until the end of the 2014 season.

Of the other 19 players in Naylor’s new-look squad, 18 have signed one-year deals and long-serving stand-off Neil Roden (32) is midway through a two-year agreement which, on completion, may see him hang up his boots for the final time.

Cookson (24) has pinned his faith in new boss Naylor’s ability to lead Roughyeds out of Championship One at his first attempt and expects to see Oldham well established in the higher division by the time he is looking to sign his next agreement.

“A two-year deal suited me nicely,” he said. “I’m banking on promotion in 2013 and a good year in the Championship in 2014.

“Then will be an appropriate time to review my position and make decisions about the future.

“In the meantime I’m looking forward to being coached by Scott and Spanner (assistant boss Lee Spencer) and picking up lots of tips about how to play centre.

“We under-performed last season but hopefully we will right the wrongs this time and get to where we want to be.”

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